Hydraulic press.



S. J. WEBB.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1901.

996,693. Pateribd 'July 4,1911.

S. J. WEBB.

HYDRAULIG PRESS. APPLICATION IILBED JUNE 12, 1901. 1 996,693. PatentedJuly 4, 1911.

3 SHEETSEHEET 2.

Q Q 1 6' 6 I 1 ,v v gluuzul'oz S. J. WEBB.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 12, 1901.

Patentd July 4, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' jwuentoz D7) 1 abbot/"e436 S AMUEL J. WEBB, OF MINDEN, LOUISIANA.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Application filed June 12, 1901. Serial No. 64,309.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL "J WEBB, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Minden, in theparishoflVebster and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hydraulic Presses, of which the following is aspecification' My invention relates to hydraulic presses, and moreespecially to presses for compressing bales, and to the rams and enginesfor use in presses, and consists in constructing and connecting theparts for operation, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof suiticient of a bale press to illustrate my invention. The ress isshown for clearness on the same p ane as the cylinders, but it ispreferred to locate the valve shafts parallel to the hand lever shaft,as in Fig. 3. Figs. 1 and 1 are sections of different valves. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side view of part of the valve device and adjuncts; Fig. 3is a section on the line 33, Fig. 4, showing the connections with theoperating levers; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through partof thevalve device; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation illustrating a somewhatdifferent arrangement from that shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a planview enlarged of the valve device of Fig. 5.

lVhile some of the features of my invention may be used in connectionwith a press in which there is a single ram and operating engine, I showthe same in connection with a multiple or compound device, two rams andengines being illustrated in connection with a single press A, althoughthe number of rams and operating engines may be increased at will.

The press may be of any desired construction, and each ram B, has acylinder concen-' trio with the cylinder of the operating ongine C, andin some instances the lower end of the cylinder 2, ofjthe ram is openand communicates directly with the upper part of the cylinder 3, of theoperating engine. Preferably the cylinder of the rain is sur rounded bya water-jacket 4, and as the outer portion of the ram cylinder mustsupport a much heavier pressure than the inner portion the ram cylinderincreases in thickness toward thennter end, thereby reducing the amountof metal whichotherwise would be lll tl'le structure.

with the piston 6, of the ram by means of an extensible connection, thatis, a connection which maintains the two pistons in their properrelation during the working of the apparatus, but which permits thepiston 6, to be lowered out of and below the lower end of the cylinder2, to permit the adjustment of the peripheral packing of the piston orits replacement in case it becomes worn which can be accomplished byaccess through the man hole C in the upper cylinder head of the steamcylinder 'C. i

It is, of course, desirable to prevent the transmission of heat from thecylinder of the engine to the cylinder of the ram and I, therefore,interpose a non-conductor of-lreat between the two. This may be anair-space m, as shown in Fig. 1, or the space may be filled by a disk ofcompressed paper 8, as shown in Fig. 5. A port 9, at the end of thecylinder 2, of the ram communicates with a conducting pipe 10, whichleads to the cylinder 12, of the press, so. that when either ram pistonis lifted the water will be forced therefrom to lift the plunger of thepress, and when the latter descends the water will flow back into thecylinder of the ram.

To prevent the too sudden arrest of the movement of the piston of theram, the said piston is provided with a projection 13, adapted to fitclosely the port 9, which preferably is surrounded by a packing 15,which will prevent any leakage after the projection 13, enters the port.This would absolutely prevent any movement of the ram piston after theprojection enters the port, and I, therefore, provide a second port 16,connected with a pipe 17, communicating with the pipe 10, the said .port16, being of limited area so that the water can flow through the samebut slowly to the pipe 10, and thereby gradually arrest the uppermovement of the piston. In the pipe 17, is a cl 1eckvalve18, whichpermits the upward flow of the water but prevents its downward flow solong as the check-valve is closed. An operating lever 19, however, isprovided whereby this check-valve maybe lifted to permit water to flowto the piston when the latter must descend, as otherwise the pressureupon the end of the projection 13, would not be sufficient to overcomethe vacuum that would be created until said projection leaves the port9.

The ram farthest from the press is of the greatest dimensions; that is,the piston has the greatest area and this ram constituting the lowpressure ram is first operated to raise the plunger of the press at thetime of least resistance, and after the piston 6, has reached the top ofthis ram cylinder the other ram is put in operation, and havingacylinder and piston of much less dimensions (while the size of theengine is preferably as great) a much greater pressure is" It will, ofcourse, be evident that wherie the projection 13 of the low pressure ram-of very limited dimensions there would notice suff cient back pressureto render the employment ot' the check-valve 20 essential if pressure hemaintained on the piston 5,

and, therefore I have not shown it in Fig. 5, as its use is not alwaysneeded, although desirable in some cases. .It will further be evidentthat the employment of'the checkvalve 18 is only essential when theprojection 13 fits tightly within the port 9, as if there was anyleakage between the projection and the walls of the port there would beno vacuum and the port 16, and its valve might be dispensed with. It isdesirable, however, to have the projection fit tightly in the port 9, asthereby I am enabled by positively controlling the valve 18, to more.eilectually control the operations of the press. v

\Vhere it is desired to carry steam to the upper part of the cylinder ofthe operating engine the cylinder of the ram should not, of course,connect therewith, andin such case, as in the engine at the right Fig.1, the end of the cylinder 3,- is closed except the steam -i-nlet porty, and a distance casing 21,is interposed between the head of thecylinder 3, and the inner end of the cylinder 2, of the ram.

In each head of eachst'eam cylinder is a chamber or socket 23,surrounded by a suitable packing and to which is adapted it projection22, on the opposite face of the piston 5', thereby securing a cushioningeffect as the piston approaches either head... Steam is admitted to eachsocket after the projection has moved out to a slight extent, as

the inlet pipe or channel communicates with the socket but to prevent avacuum between the piston and head of the cylinder in starting (exceptwhen the low pressure engine cylinder communicates with the ramcylinder) inlet ports are provided communicating with the supply pipe orchannel, as

the port y, closed by a spring-seated valve top, may be passed to thebottom of the other cylinder, thereby compounding the apparatus ineither direction, and the valve device D, is also constructed so thatthe steam from oneside E the high pressure rain cylinder may becirculated to the other side thereof and then" exhausted into the othercylinder. Thus, it is possible to obtain a multiple of differentpressures, either by direct action of the steam 'or by compounding theengines.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4: the valve device has sixvalve casings and valves a, b, c, d, c, f, each casing with partitionshaving ports and valve-seats dividing it into a central chamber to andoutside chambero, and the valve-stems extend vertically throughstufling-boxes of the casings. The chamber 0, of the casing a,communicates with the steam supplypipe 30, and the chamber '11, of thecasing d, communicates with the exhaust pipe The chamber 21, of hecasing e, communicates with a circulating pipe 32, extendingto the topof the cylinder of the high pressure ram engine and with the pipe 32,also communicates the chamber o, ofthe casing f, the chamber to, of thelatter communicating with the exhaust pipe 33. H p The chambers w,-ofthe terminal casings b, e, communicate-through pipes 28, with thecylinders of the adjacent engines. The casings c, has a valve whichserves to open and cut oil cumniuni'cation between the easing 6, and theother casings, and by lifting the valve of the casing c, and that-of thecasing b, communication-is established between the two engine cylinders3,3 to err-- haust from below the elevated piston ot either into thecylinder of the otherg and' then byclosipg either .of the 'said val'vesand opening the valve of the casing'ia-, 'the steam is directed from the"supply pipe :to one of the enginesaccor'dmg to which v i on the rockingof the cams.

is left open, and then by closing the supply valve and opening the valveof the casing d, the steam is exhausted from said engine to the exhaustpipe.

By opening the valves of-the casings b c f, steam may be exhausted fromthe low pressure to the bottom of the high pressure engine cylinder, andfrom the top of the latter through the pipe 32,-to the exhaust pipe 33.By opening the valves of casings b d, the steanrmay be exhausted fromthe low pressure engine cylinder to the exhaust pipe By opening thevalve of the casing e, the steam may circulate through the pipe 32, fromthe top to the bottom of the cylinder of the high pressure engine orfrom the bot tom to the top.

Each valve-stem is depressed to close the valve by means of a spring 38,and is raised by a suitable cam or otherwise. In the construction shownin Figs 1 to 4, all the cams of the valves a to e are secured to or rockupon a single shaft 3'9, andthe valve f is raised by cam f, and all thecams are so constructed and connected with operating devices as to liftthe valves in proper manner For instance the cams for operating valvesa, b and c are fixed to the shaft 39 rocked by the arm 40 connected tothe lever 43. These cams extend on one or the other side of the shaft39, as shown in'Fig. 3, so as to move the respective valves when theshaft is rocked in one direction or the other. The cam for operating thevalve 6 is mounted to rock loosely on the shaft 39 and is operated bythe lever 48 through its connecting rod. The arm 40 swings loosely onshaft 39 and moves the cam operating valve (1 and is connected to lever4.8. Inthe construction shown in Fig. 5, there are but four casings,diagonally arranged and the cams are upon different rock shafts,provided with arms 40. In either case the parts are so constructed andarranged that the valves may be raised or lowered in proper manner tosecure the resalts described.

The levers Y43 and 48 which control the valves of the valve device D,may also control the valves 18 and 20. As shown in Fig. 1, a rod 50,connects the lever 48, with one of the arms 19, the two arms 19 beingconnected together by a rod 51 so as to operate in unison. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 5 a rod 52, leads from each arm 19 to anoperating lever.

In order to operate the valve 20, positively I prefer to make use of amotor consisting of a piston 53, and a cylindc 54, to which water isadmitted bya pipe from the pipe leading from the ram cylinder to thepipe 10, and the passage of water through the pipe 55, is controlled bya valve 56, provided with an arm 57, which is connected with the rod 51,so that the valve 56.

from the previous operation), which allows the steam to How from the topof the'higl'i pressure cylinder to the bottom of the low pressurecylinder, forcing its piston up. The lever is then drawn back closingthe valve 0, and the lever 48 is pushed forward closing 0 and openingvalve (1. and admitting live steam under the said piston whichco1npletes its stroke and makes the initial pressure on the bale. Thenthe lever 48 is drawn back which closes the valve a, and the lever 43 ispushed forward opening 0 and f, 11 being already open, and steam isallowed to flow from the under side of the low pres sure piston to theunder side of the high pressure piston thus forcing it up and a pplyingadditional pressure to the bale; then the lever 43 is drawn back thusclosing the valve Z), leaving 0 and open by the action of the doublecams under them and opening the valve a, thus admitting live steam underthe high prcssurepiston, which drives it up and applies the finalpressure to the. bale. The exhaust from above'the high pressure pistonpasses out through pipe 32, valve f and pipe 33, lever 43 being thenstopped to leave all valves closed. To lower the press, the valve 0 isopened by the lever 48, al lowing the steam to pass from the under sideof the high pressure piston to the upper side of the same, retaining thesteam for use to drive up the low pressure piston on the next stroke,and the weight of this piston and rod will cause it to descend, thusleaving all the steam in the upper end of the high pressure piston readyto start to press another bale. The lever 48 is then drawn back openingvalves 11, 19, 1S and 20 in this order, thus allowing the steam to passfrom the bottom of the low pressure cylinder out through the pipe 33 andallowing the water to pass all of the hydraulic valves into thehydraulic cylinders Q, con'iplcting the operation and leaving all theparts as at the beginning of the operation, and as shown in Fig. 1.

Shaft rigidly connected through arm 4-0 and its connecting rod to lever4-3 (Figs. 2 and 3) and carries cams to operate valves 0. a, 7), cam 0being a double cam. The double cam under valve f is also connected tolever 48. The double cams lift the valves bv either forward or backwardmotion of the hand lever. There is a cam under each of the valves a, (Zand e which swing loosely on shaft 39 and are all connected to andoperated by lever 48 by means of connecting rods. Valve 05 is alsooperated by lever 4:8, as one of the cams under it swings loosely onshaft 39 and is connected to lever 48 by means of a connecting rod. Theother cam under a is operated by the lever 43. Valve 2) is opened andclosed by lever 43.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, lever 43 opens valves 1),]: and f by its forwardmovement, and c, f

" and a by its backward movement-f Lever 18 opens valve a by its forwardmovement, and e, (Z, 19, 18 and 20 by its backward movement, and wheneach lever is at point O, all of the valves are closed, as shown by thearcs at the top of the levers in Fig. 3, which is corr'e'ctly letteredto show the opening of each valve in their regular orders. Point O isthe vertical or central position of each of the hand levers. The forwardmovement of levers 43 and -18 is toward the press or to the right ineach figure.

It will be evident that any other suitable arrangement of valves or anysuitable 1mm her 0t operating le *ers may be employed so that any valveor valves may be lifted when, it is necessary to effect the desiredresults, that is, to admit the steam to the cylinder of either operatingengine or to exhaust it from either operating engine, either to theexhaust or to the cylinder of the other engine, or to circulate it fromend to end of one of the cylinders.

I have referred to the fact that the pistons ofthe rams and cylindersare extensibly connected. Any suitable means may be em ployed for thispurpose, but preferably the connecting rod is in two sections 9, 11, oneprovid ednvith threads extending into the othersection, as in Fig. 5, orwhere the ram cylinder is separated from the engine cylinder, as in thehigh pressure rum in Fig. 1, the threaded end of the piston-rod mayextend through a threaded socket in the piston of the ram. By turningthe piston of the rum in either case the distance be ween the saidpiston and that of the operating engine may be increased or diminishedas desired.

,In the constrlnlirn shown in Figs. 5 and (31110 casings of the valvesare arranged diagonally to each other, about 'a central casing 1, whichcommunicates with each valve casing. The valve casing (L, conununirateswith the steam pipe 30, and the opposite valve casing (Z, communicateswith ,thc exhaust pipe 33, and the valve casings b and a with. theopposite engines respectively, and by properly operating the valveseither engine may be put into communication with either thesupply pipeor the exhaust or with each other.

To permit access to the pa icltings of the press cylinder the lowersection of the plunger 69, is less in length than the dis tance of thelower pait of the packing from the bottom of the cylinder, and thislower section is separable from the movable platen 67, in any suitablemanner, so that when the said platen is lifted with the upper section ofthe plunger (which may be connected either permanently or detachablywith the platen) the paclrings will be exposed for repair orreplacement.

As shown, the upper section 62, of the plunger is a part of or connectedpermanently with the platen 67, and one or more bolts 63, pass throughthe platen into the lower section of theplunger and connect the samedetachably with the platen. I

To permit the manipulation of the bolt or bolts 63, which necessitatesaccess to the heads thereof, the latter occupy positions in the platen67 below the level of the ribs between the grooves in the platen plate,and a section 65, of the latter having ribs thereon is removable topermit access to the sockets and the heads of the bolts therein.

The lower end of the plunger 69 is provided with a. projection (59adapted to fit in a recess 12 in the lower end of the cylinder 12. Thepipe 10 communicates with. the recess and the latter forms the. inletand exhaust port of the cylinder, and when the plunger is at its lowestposition the projec tion (59 will enter and close such port. and form acushion for the plunger.

In Fig. 5, the operation is as follows: lever 13 is pulled back openingthe Valve Z; lever 48 is then pushed forward opening the valve (1, thusadmitting live steam to'the' underside of the piston and driving it upand making the first pressure on the bale. The valve a is closed bydropping the lever back to t), then lever 43 is drawn farther back,opening the valve 6 and allowing steam to pass from the low pressure tothe high pressure cylinder, thus applying additional pressure to thebale. Then lever 43 is pushed forward, closing the valve 2) and openingthe valve 0 by the action of the double cam under the valve 6 and lever48 is pushed forward, opening the valve a, admitting live steam to theunderside of the high pressure piston, thus completing its stroke andgiving the final high pressure to the bale. Lever 48 is then drawn backto O.

and lever 43 is also drawn back,- openingthe valves 7), c and d, whichallowsthe steam to exhaust from both cylinders through the exhaust pipe33, and lever 48 is drawn back opening both the valves 18, allowingthewater to pass around the projections on the hydraulic istons andcausing them to descend to tlieir normal position, thus completln r theoperation.

Wit iout limiting myselfto the precise 1. The combination with thecommunicat ing cylinders of an engine and ram,--the engine cylinderhaving a man hole, of a piston in each of the cylinders, and anextensible connection between the two pistons whereby one can bewithdrawn from its cylinder without detachingit from the other piston,substantially as set forth. 1

2. The combination with the communicating cylinders of an engine andram, the en gine cylinder having a man hole, of a piston in eachcylinder provided with peripheral packings, and an extensible connectionbetween the two pistons whereby one can be withdrawn from its cylinderto replace or adjust the packing withoutdetaching it from the otherpiston, substantially asset forth;

3. The combination with the hydraulic press, rams and operating enginestherefor and-connecting pipes, of a valve structure comprising aplurality ofcontiguous and communicating casings, eachcasing having avalve, and operating means for the valves, said structure and operatingmeans being constructed and arranged to admit steam first. to the lowpressure ram engine and then exhaust from same to the high pressure ramengine and then admit steam directly to the latter engine and from thelatter to the former, substantially asset forth.

4. The combination with the cylinder and piston of a hydraulic ram, oftwo outlet ports at the end of the cylinder, a projection on the pistonadapted to enter and close one of said ports, and a check valve forpreventing return flow through the other port, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination with the cylinder and piston of a hydraulic ram, oftwo outlet ports at the end of the cylinder, a projection on the pistonadapted to enter and close one municating with said casings,

of said ports, and a valve and means for positively opening the same andcontrolling the flow through the other port, substan tiallyas set forth,v

6. The combination with a hydraulic press, of a hydraulic ram andactuatingengine, said ram having a cylinder, piston, and.

two terminal ports, a projection on the piston adapted to close one ofsaid ports, a pipe communicating with said port and the press, and asecond pipe extending between the first and the other port and checkvalve, substantially as set forth.

7 The combination with a hydraulic press, of a hydraulic ram andactuating engine, said ram having a cylinder, and two terminal ports,aprojection on the piston adapted to close one of said ports,'a pipecommunicating with said port and the press,,asecond pipe extendingbetween the first and the other port, and provided with acheck valve,and means for positively opening said valve, substantially as set forth.

8. In a valve device a series of connected valve casings each having acentral chamher to and a chamber '0 surrounding it with ports betweenthem and valves adapted to said ports, and a plurality of the chambersi0 being in open communication with each other and with the chamber 12of other casings, whereby steam may pass from one casing to anotherWithout operating its valve, and supply and exhaust pipes'comsubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thetwo subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL J. WEBB.

presence of provided with a I piston,

